Telephone system.



2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. 0. G. 61', E. J. BURKE. TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED 00114, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED ,sT rns Parana? OFFICE.

CHARLES G. BURKE AND EDWARD J. BU

RKE, or BROOKLYN, New YORK,

ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN Q. A. WIH'ITEMORE, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed. October 14,1905. Serial No. 282,732.

To t whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES G. BURKE and EDWARD J. BURKE, citizens of the York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to telephone systems; and it has for its object to provide an annunciator which will operate to indicate to a central operator that a subscriber has called and which will also operate to indicate when the subscriber has completed the conare located in the vicinity of the jacks.

It has for its further obicct toprovide an annunciator which, in addition to the func-"' versation.

tions stated above, will indicate in'a diflercnt manner when the subscriber has completed his conversation from'that when the subscriber first calls the central station.

It has for its further object to provide an annunciator which will indicate in one manner when the subscriber desires a connection,

and again in a dill'erent manner when one of i the connected subscribers desires to be dlscong nectcd or hangs up his receiver, and again in a different manner when the other subscriber desires to be disconnected, and again in a different manner when both subscribers have hung up their receivers.

A further obiect'of the invention is to provide a means for signaling the operator at the beginning and at the end of the conversation which will be located in proximity to the subscribci"s jack. Ileretofore it has been customary to provide a set of subscribers signaling instruments and another set of signaling instruments fort-he plug-circuits. These two sets of instruments in systems now known in the art are located at different places in the operators tables, so that the operators have two sets of instruments to watch. I v

In making connections between subscribers in the 'yst cms now known in the art the plugs are inserted in jacks connected to the subscribers station. The jacks are located in all parts of the operators board. The signaling means for the plugs are located over the plugseats, so that when a conversation is completed the plug lines or wires have to be traced from the plug-seats through other plug lines or wires which are being l l l I l l l used for connecting other subscribers to the particular pair of plugs'which are connected to the subscribers that have completed their conversation. This complexity increases when the subscribers are connected tomultiple boards. By our invention the operator is required to watch only the lamps which are associated with the jacks of the sub scribers directly under the supervision of the operator.

In our invention the annunciators perform the double function of indicating when the subscriber desires a connection to be made and when the conversation is completed and There is consequently but one set of annunciators for the operator to watchj In our invention we use small electric lamps for signaling the operator. I Each lamp pertaining to each subscribers circuit may be placed in proximity to each subscribers jack. When a subscriber desires a connection to be made and when he has completed his conversation,

' the lamp of his circuit which is located in the vicinity of the jack will light up and indicate to the operator to insert or withdraw her. plug from that particular jack. Likewise the lamp of the other subscriber who has connected with the first subscriber will light up, and the operator will pull out the connectingplug from the iack of that subscriber, This prevents mistakes in withdrawing plugs, re-,

I duces the number of annunciators, and reduces the area to be watched by the operator, and consequently greatly increases the capacity of the central station.

The invention also consistsin features set forth in the claims and which are disclosed in the following description and shown in the drawings.

In the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates dia- I grammatically the system embodying our invention. Fig. 2 illustrates the application of our invention to multiple-board central systems, and Fig. 3 illustrates a plug used in connection with the system illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring tothe drawings. 1 and 8 indicate receivers located at two of the subscribers stations.

2 and 9 indicate receiver-hooks. L

i 6 and 13 indicate upper contacts,iwhich are closed when the receivers are removed from the hooks in the manner well known in the art.

5 and 12indicate transmitters.

4 and 11 indicate condensers, and'3 and indicate bells.

, 15 and 16 indicate the line connections between one subscribers station and the central station, and l4 and 17 indicate line con nections between the other subscribers station and the central station.

36 and 46 indicate jack-sleeves, v

35 and 47 indicate spring-contacts located in the jack. "They have insulated tips.

37 and 45 indicate plugs'adapted to be insei'ted in the jacks and make contact with the rings and springs thereof in the manner well knownin the art;

, 62 is a generator for producing a signalingcurrent. J Y

44 is a ringing and listening key.

42 is a' listening-telephone. The subscribers stations are connected to the battery 18, located at the central station.

In one of the lin'esl'eading to eachof the subscribers. stations is connected a relay-mag:

net. These are marked in the drawing 19 and 20. When the receiver is removed from the hook, a'current from the battery 18 sprin contacts of-the system which correg (i with contactsf35 and 47 through the passes through the lines and the relay-mag,

net and causes it tooperte.

Thema'gnet 19 is provided withamiaairt 51 and 52." Likewise magnet 20.is provided with armatur'es-53 and 54 Armatures 51 and 52 make contact normally witheontacts 21 and and when energized make contact With contact 55'3/I1d. 26. Armatures 53 and 54 normally make contact with contacts 22 and -24, and when the magnet 20 is energized they make contact with contact '23 and 56.

Acircuit-breaker 43 forproducing a pulsating current'is provided'for signaling the operator when connection is desired. ,The

circuit-breaker consists of a. segmental wheel. 31, which is adapted to mate and break connection with contact as the wheel rotates.

The battery 32 is connected with all the spon lamps 50 51', while contact :30 is connected to all of the contacts whichicorrespond" to contacts 26 and 23. A battery 32 is also connected to theisegmental wheel 31.- In" the normaloperation of the system the wheel I 31- is constantly rotati'n 55 'When the subscriber armatures' to close coiita'ct'with contacts 23 and 56; A Vibrating current then flowsfro'rn i the battery 32 through-the wheel .31, contact tor'that, a connection is desired by a subl 30, 23, 56,47, andlarnp 51.1. This causes'the lamp 51 to flash, which indicates to the opera 88 and 39 indicate wires connecting the plugs.

Y the con'tactfil.

Tifts the receiver 8, hecloses a contact 13; I A current is then a.ll'owed to flow from the battery-118 through 1 the transmitter 12, contact 13, and magnet -2(}.- This energizes magnet 20 and causes its scriber. The operat fr inserts the plug in the jack which is -in the Vicinity of thefiashing light 51 and at the same time throws the key 44 to the right. A circuit for voicecurrents is-thus closed from the battery 18,

through the receiver 42 and coil 57, contacts l 58 59,.plug 45, sleeve 60, transmitter -12,,

receiver-8 to the battery '18, and it also breaks the circuit passing fromv battery 32 through the lamp 51 and contact 47. The .flashing of the lamp 51 ceases, and the operator ima ires of the subscriber whati'number is wante When the number is ascertained, the operatdrinserts the plug 37 in the jack associated with thenumber given. In this particular. case'it is inserted 1n the jack 36, and at the same time the key'44 is thrown to thelft, "Contact 35 isseparated from between'" the subscribers is completed, the

subscribers han'gup their receivers and the circuits throughtthe' receiverhooks 2 and 9 are broken. This causes the magnets 19 and 20 to become deenergiz'ed, and the armatures At the-same time it closes a' of the magnets spring back in th.e ,ma'n'ne r well known in the art. This closes a-cir'cuit.

from the battery 32, through the lamps 5O and 51, contacts35 and 47, 21 and 24, 2 5 and" 22, back to the battery 32;- The constant current from the battery 32 causes the lamps;

and'51- to glow with a steady light, which indicates to the operator that the conversation is completed and 'who' then withdraws the plugs 37 and 45.. A 7

' In Fig. 2 is illustrated our invention as applied to multiple-board central systems; The connections ofthe subscribers instruments with the centralfstationare the same 'as'those of the systeni,il 1ustrated"in Fig: 1 and dey scribed 'above'.-- i'-Each 1 station, however, "is connected toa: plurality of jacks36,46, 70, and71. 'Contacts'3'5l and 47 ofthe jacks 36 and 46 of the system shownin Fig, 2=do1not have insulated'portions, as in the system 1 shownin'Fig. 1.- The multiplejacks-f and 71 are provided flv'ithgcontacts72 73: Contacts 72 and 7.4 are adaptedtoijmakejcontact with the plug, while-contactsi73 and 75 have insulations at the1r'ends-which prevent cdnnections with the pl ug', but cooperates with the plug to separate the contact from contacts-wand 77.1 Contacts'76 and 77 are IIO connected with the lamps 78 and 79.

tery 32. Contacts 72 and 74 are connected to contacts 21 and 24 of relays 19 and 20 and to one end of the resistances 80and 81. The other end of the resist ances80 and 81 are connected with contacts 82 and 93 of the jacks 36 and 46. The jacks are connected together by means of the plugs 83'and 84.

' The plugs used-in. the system illustrated in Fig. 2-are each provided with a hollow handle 85, on which is mounted a thimble 86. A ball or ring 87 is mounted on the thimble 86 and insulated therefrom by insulation 89. A wire is connected to the thimble 86, and an- 1 other wire is connected to the sleeve 87'. The

subscribers stations.

balls or rings 87 of the plugs are connected in series with the resistance 92. 86 are connected with the operators circuit in the manner well known inthe art and are adapted to register with the sleeves of the jacks, which are connected in turn with the When a subscriber desires to converse with any one, he lifts his telephone-receiver 8 from the hook 9. This causes a current to flow from the battery 18, through the relay-magnet 20, receiver-hook 9, transmitter 12, receiver 8, back to the battery 18, as in the case of the system illustrated in Fig. 1. This causes the magnet to become energized and to draw over the armatures 53 and'54, so as-to close with the contacts 23 and 56. A current then flows from the battery 32, throughthemake-andsbre'ak device 43, contact 23 56 47, lamp 78, contact 76 73, to the battery 32. This causes the lamp 78 to flash. The operatorinserts a plug into the jack 46 and at the same time throws the 44v over to the rightand'asks the subscriber What number is wanted. The insertion of the plug into the jack breaks the connection through the lamp 7 Send the lamp ceases to flash. The movement of the key 44 connects the operators talking-circuit with the subs'c'ribers instrument. When the .operator.

ascertains the number wanted, she first touches the end of the thimble 86 to the ring of one of the .j acks connected to the subscriber wanted. If the subscriber wanted is busy,

the sleeve of the 1acks connected thereto will have a certain potential from the battery '18,-

' the fall of the potential between the sleeve and the battery being normally through the high-resistance 'magnet 19. Touching the sleeve with the .thimble willucause a current to be shunted from the sleeve '71, thimble 86, key 44, and head receiver 42, which will produce a click in the head receiver. click occurs, the operator will know that the subscriber wanted is not busy and will insert the plug 85 into the jack 71 and will throw the key 44 to the left. This will cause a current to flow from the generator 62, through the key 44, thimble-86, sleeve 71, bell 3, to the Con- 1 generator 62. tacts 73 and 75 are connected with the hat- The thimblesup his receiver first, ma

If no This will cause the bell 3' to ring. A connection will also be established froinbattery 32, through contacts 21, con' tact 74 87, resistance 92. contact 47, lamp 78,

contact 76 73, back to the battery 32. This.- will cause the lamp 78 to glow somewhat brightly until the subscriber wanted lifts his receiver-from the hook in answer to the call of the bell '3. This causes a current to flow throughmagnet 19 and breaks the connection between contacts 21 and 25. The lamp 78 ceases to glow. the jack 71 and the lifting of thereceiver 1 from the hook 2 establishes a connection between the subscribers through the sleeves of the jack and the key 44 on one side and through the connections leading directly to The insertion of the plug in the battery on the other side. The battery 18 is connected in parellel with these connec- 'tions, as in system shown in Fig. 1.

If the subscriber having receiver 1 hangs net 19 will become deenergized and cause -the lamp 78,, located in the section of the subscriber who first called, to glow somewhat brightly, as described. I however, the subscriber having receiver 8. hangs uphis receiver first, the magnet 20 becomes deenergized anda current is established from the battery 32 through coni tact 22 and 24, high resistance 81 contact 47 lamp 78, contacts 75 73, andbattery 32. This will cause the lamp toglow less brightly and will indicate to the operator that the subscrib'erhaving receiver 8 has hung up his receiver. When, howevenboth' receivers are hung up, the current from the battery 32 flows in two directions, one through contacts 22 24, resistance 81, contact 47, and the other through contacts 25 21 7'4, resistance 92, contact 47, and these two aths reduce the resistance by about onealf and cause the lamp '78 to glow very brightly,

which will indicate to the operator that both subscribers have hung up. thelr receivers.

If while the operator is trying to call up a subscriber having receiver 1 and the subscriber having receiver 8 desires to communicate wlth her for any reason, she will merely place receiver .8 on the'hook, which will cause the lamp 78 to glow very brightly, as just described. If the subscriber vibrates his hook up and down, the lamp will 'pulsate accordingly.

The invention may be varied by. those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof.

What-we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows: 1

1. Ina telephone system the combination of asubscribers station and a central station, a line annunciator, a switch, a circuitbreaker and means controlled. by the subscriber and the-said switch for connecting and disconnecting the annunciator to the said circuit-breaker to give different indica tions when'a connection isdesired and when the conversation is completed. i

2. In a telephone system the combination of a subscribers'station and a central sta- 5 tion, a line annunciaton a switch, a circuitbreaker for producing a' pulsating current and means controlled by the subscriber and. the saidswitch for causing the circuit breaker to operate'the' annunciator when-a -1o connection is desired and for causing the said tion is completed.

3. In a telephone system the combination of a subscribersstation and a central staameans for varying the'saidcurrent and ineanscontrolled by the subscriber for (M recting the said current to the annunciatorto indicate when the connection is"desired and when the conversationiscompleted.

4. In a telephone system the comblnatlon of .a subscribers station and acentral sta-' tion, azline annunciator lamp, means con trolled by'thesubscriber and the operator for varying the light of the lamp 5.. In a telephone system the combination of a subscribers station and a central Station, a jack and a line annunciator associated with the said subscribers line,- a OlI'Cult-i disconnecting the said circuit-breaker with the said 'annunciator and a magnet con trolled by the subscriber for causing the annunciator to giveone indication when the connection is desired'and to-givea different indication when the pleted. v -Y r 6-. Ida telephone system the combination of asubscriber's station-and a central -sta'-- tion, a jack and a line-annunciator lam p'as 4 sociated with the said subscribersline, a c1r' I "suit-breaker, and means for normally'connecting the said circuitbreaker with the said lamp andmeans controlled by the subnection is desired and an indication of fifdifferent character when the conversation is con1pl eted. y 5o 7 In a telephone system thecombination of a plurality of subscribers 's tations anda tion when theconversation is completed. I 8. 'In a telephone system.'the combination of a subscribers station arfd a central station, a lamp located at the central station .65 and controlled by thesu bscriber a means annunciator to operate when the converse-i scrlbers station and to cause a difierent indit'ion, a line annunciator, a source of current,= tion of asubscribers station and a central and means for causing the said'lamp to pro&

breaker and aplug-switch for connecting and vscribers station is operated in another way,

A conversation is comscriber and the operator for causing the said lamp to giveone indication when'the con: 'bination of a plurality of-subscribers"'staconnected with switches located inthe connection is desired and a difierent indica'a 9-. In a telepnonesystem the combination of a subscribers station and'aj central sta' tion, an annunciator associated with thesubscrib'ers line, plug-circuits located at the cen-' tral station, means foricausing the saidahnunciator to give an indication until the said plug-circuit is connected with thesaid subcation until the said connection is broken.

10. In a telephone system the combinastation, a line-annunciator lamp, 'means lo;- c'at'ed at the subscribers station for controlling the said lamp and means located at the central station for controlling the said lamp, v

duce lights of a dilterent character when the subscriber-desires to have a connection made and when'the' conversation is completed. 11. In a telephonesystem the combination of a subscribers station and a central 0 station, aline annunciator;;means located at the .subscribers station for controlling' the said lamp, means located at the central sta 'v j "j tion for controlling the said lamp, and means I for causing the said lamp to producea 1ight95'j of one characterwhen the means-located at l the subscribersstation'isoperat in oned rection and for producing a lightf bf-another character when the means located at the sub-:

'12. In a telephone systemthe combination of afsubscrlbers station," and a central station, a line-annunciator lamp, means located atj the subscriber s station and means located at'the central station for controlling; ire V5 the said lamp, means for causing'the sai lamp to produce a" fluctuating light when a connection isdesired and for pro'dueingga 13. Ina tel eph' ne central system thecomtions, jacks associated with the said stations an annunclator associated with each of the said jacks, means for causing the said annun'e 1,15

ciator toactuate iii one waywhen the sub- 'scriber desires to be connected with another and in. a second way when one subscriber thus connected to another'desires to be-dis r connected and ma third way-when the sub- 120',

scriber thus connected desires to be disc0n* nected.

-' 14. In a telephone central system the com l 4 bination of a plurality of. subscribers Sta-- tions, jacks associated with the said stations, TI 55' I an annunciator associated with each 'of the said jacks, means for causing thesaid annuneiator to be actuated in one way when the subscrlber desires to be connected with an other and another way when either-one of the 3 steadyv'lightf when the conversation c'orn bination of a plurality of subscribers statlons, acks conz'iected with SitlLiStELtlOIlS, an

'tor to be actuated when a subscriber desires when the other of the connected subscribers 15. In a telephone central system the combinat-ion of a plurality of subscribers sta tions, jacks connected to the said stations, an anntutciator associated witheach of the. said jacks, means for causing the said an'nunci'ator to be actuated when a subscriber desires to be connected with another and to be actuated in one way when a subscriber thus connected desires to be disconnected and to be actuated iii-another way when the other connected subscriber desires to be disconnected.

16. In a telephone central system the com- :tllillLiCitttOl associated with each of the said JaClCS, means tor causing the said annunclato be connected with another and to be actuated in one Way when one of the connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and in another way when the other of the connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and to be actuated when both subscribers desire to be disconnected. v 17. In a telephone central system the combination of a plurality of subscribers stations,'jacks connected with said stations, an annuncist-tor associated with each of the said jacks, means for causing the said annuncia tor to be actuated in one Way when a subscriber desires to be connected with another and to be actuated in another way when one of the connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and to be actuated in a third way desires to be disconnected and in a fourth way when both subscribers desire to be disconnected. 7

18. In a telephone central system the combination'of an annunciat-or, switches for controlling the said annunciator, means for causing' the said annunciator to be actuated in one way when one of two connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and to be actuated in another way when theother con nected subscriber desires to be disconnected.

19. In a telephone central system the com bination of an annunciator, switches for con trolling said annunciator, means for causing the said annunicator to be actuated in one way when either one of two subscribers desires to be discbnnected and to be actuated in another way when both subscribers desire to be disconnected.

20; In a telephone central system the combination of an annunciator, switches for controlling the said annunciator, means for l causing the said annunc-iatorto be actuated 1 in one way when one of two connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and to be 1 nected subscriber desires to be disconnected and to be actuated in a third way when both subscribers desire to bedisconnected.

21. In a telephone central system the combination ofa plurality of subscribers sta tions, jacks connected. with said stations, a

lamp associated with each jack, means for causingthe said lamp to give a light of one character when a subscriber desires to be connected with another" subscriber and to give a light of another character when either subscriber desires to be disconnected.

22. In a telephone central system the com bination of a plurality of subscribers stations, jacks connected with said stations, a lamp associated with each jack, means for causing the said lamp to give a light of one character Vi hen a subscriber desiresto be connected with another, to give a light of another character when one subscriber desires to be disconnected and to give a light of a third character when time other connected subscriber desires to' e disconnected.

23. In a telephone central system the combination of aplu'rality of subscribers sta. tions, jacks connected'with said stations,a lamp associated with each jack means for causing the said lamp to give a light Ufa I18 character when one of two connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and to give a light of another character when the other of the connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and to give a light of a third character when both of the subscribers desire to be disconnected.

24.: In a telephone central system the combination of a lamp, switches for controllin the saidlamp, means for causing the said lamp to be actuated when either one of the subscribers desire to be disconnected and to give a light of a different character when both subscribers desire to be disconnected.

25. In a telephone central system-the combination of a lamp, switches for controlling the said lamp, means for causing the said lamp to give a light of one character when one' of two connected subscribers desires to be disconnected and to give a light of another character when anotherof the connected subscribers desires to be disconnected.

26. In a multiple board central system the combination of a plurality of subscribersstations, a plurality of jacks, connected to each station, a lamp associated with each. setof jacks, means for causing the said lamp to be actuated when a subscriber desires to be connected with another and to be actuated nected.

. 27. Ina multiple-board central system the actuated in another way when the other conannunciato to be aetuated whella subscriber l when either subscriber desires to be disconated with eac' jack, means for causing the said ennunciator to be operated-in one way before its associated jack is connected to-the seidconnecting two subscribingwitnesses.

i Mess-4 meansand in a. third way after the said co n ,necting means is connected with-another] 3ack} In testimony whereof we. have signed our names tothls specification in the presence'of, 20

-' CHARLES G. BURKE. Y

i v y 7 EDWARD J. BURKE.

Witnesses;

' FAUST F. CRAMPro 'V. N. HOPPINQ.

meansend in another way- 1 1 after it 1s connected with the. said connecting 1'5- 

